Pennington officials honored local resident Kieran John with a proclamation for his continued service to the borough community and leadership in organizing their participation in the Communities of Light campaign at a Borough Council meeting on May 5.
They thanked him for his dedication to the community and efforts in fostering connections as well as kindness.
“Thank you, Kieran,” Mayor James Davy said. “We appreciate what you do.”
John thanked Davy and the Borough Council.
“I’m a little embarrassed and very honored by this recognition,” he said. “As many of you know this campaign Communities of Light is not new to Pennington.
“Our community has supported this over the years for quite a while so when the mayor asked me three or four years ago to consider leading and coordinating this for our community, I was very happy to do so. Not because I have any unique skills in this but because I felt it was important.”
John added that what he has seen over the couple of years is how strong the community is when they come together on important issues.
“… We have raised a substantial amount of money, over $10,000,” he said. “We’ve seen support from our residents, from our businesses, your administration which has brought light and legitimacy to this topic, but all throughout our community even places of worship across town have all gotten involved.
“Coming together as a community really strengthens us and it is important because it creates connections I think and that is very important as our community grows. This is really a community effort it is not me and people have given their time and energy.”
Pennington’s recognition of John comes as he is set to receive the 2025 Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service next week at Younity’s 29th Annual Awards dinner on May 15 at Mercer Lake in West Windsor.
Younity, formerly known as Womanspace, was founded in 1977 and is a nonprofit that provides emergency and long-term support to individuals and families affected by domestic and sexual violence. The nonprofit based in Lawrenceville serves Mercer County and the state by providing 24/7 crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and crisis hotlines.
They have provided more than 3,400 people with personalized support, helped more than 400 find refuge in their safe house, and answered more than 6,700 calls their hotlines.
Younity organizes Communities of Light as a way to raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence. The campaign each year in December encourages residents to light luminaries throughout their neighborhoods and also raises for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
John is being awarded the 2025 Edwin W. Schmierer Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service for his leadership and service in Pennington. The award is presented annually to a volunteer whose commitment has made a profound and lasting impact within the community.
“The thing I enjoy most is knocking on people’s door and talking about this with people. This is one of those issues that you don’t know when you are going to come across someone that might need the services – Younity – provides,” he said.
“(Younity) really provides a lot of support, shelter, and legal advice, and looks after children caught in the middle of these things when it comes to domestic and sexual violence. These sort of issues in any one community lurks in the shadows and happens even in a wonderful place like Pennington. When we get behind something like this as a community it reminds us, we are connected in a very powerful way.”
Nathalie Nelson, president and CEO of Younity, said John reflects a community-driven spirit.
“Kieran has shown that grassroots leadership isn’t just about organizing—it’s about listening, empowering others, and showing up with purpose,” she said. “He reflects the kind of community-driven spirit this award was created to honor. His work reminds us that no one changes the world alone.”
The award is named in honor of longtime board member and dedicated volunteer Ed Schmierer of Ewing. The honor celebrates those who embody the spirit of sustained service and community leadership, according to Younity.
John not only organizes Pennington’s participation in the Communities of Light campaign, but he also serves as chair of the borough’s Environmental Commission. Additionally, he is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of biotech company – Firstlight Pharmaceuticals.
